If you have social care or health needs and live in Northumberland, the Joint Equipment Loans Service (JELS) can provide equipment to help you to live independently at home.
The equipment we provide can help protect you from accidents, assist you with carrying out day to day tasks, and make it easier for people to care for you. Providing the right equipment can also help you to move back home after being in hospital.
Please see our FAQs below which has lots of information about the services.
For further information please ask your health or social care professional or you can contact the service directly on 01670 730595.
Who is eligible to borrow equipment?
The service provides equipment for anyone that needs it, but this decision is made by health or social care professionals including care managers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, specialist social workers, district nurses and health visitors.
If you think you would benefit from having a piece of equipment you should tell your care manager (or any of the professionals mentioned above) and they will be able to help you.
- What type of equipment does the service provide?
The types of equipment we provide includes:
- Alarms and door entry systems
- Beds and chairs
- Bathing and showering equipment
- Toileting aids
- Hoisting and moving and handling equipment
- Kitchen aids
- Personal aids
- Walking aids, grab rails and wheelchairs
- Pressure relief equipment
- Equipment specifically designed for children
- Equipment for visual and hearing impairments
- How long does it take to get equipment?
All our equipment has been approved by a technical panel that checks for suitability and we aim to deliver within seven working days of receiving an order. However, if you need special equipment that we do not hold in stock it may take considerably longer than seven days before we can deliver.
If you require a wheelchair, once you have been assessed, it usually takes up to 10 days for delivery. Specialist wheelchairs, postural seating, and powered wheelchairs can take longer depending on the specification and the manufacturer’s lead-times.
If you are concerned about how long you have been waiting, please contact the professional who ordered the equipment for you.
- How is the equipment delivered?
Our delivery vans regularly go to all areas in Northumberland and will deliver your equipment at the first suitable opportunity. Our Equipment and Loans Service can provide short-term loans of wheelchairs. For longer term loans your GP or consultant will refer you to the specialist wheelchair service for your area.
Deliveries will be made by either your therapist, the delivery driver or, for the powered wheelchairs, by the regional wheelchair services engineer. We will phone you the day before we plan to deliver your equipment to make sure that you will be in.
- Using the equipment
Our drivers are not able to show people how to use the equipment. A health or social care professional will show you and your carer how to use the equipment correctly and safely and how to look after and clean the equipment.
- Returning the equipment
If the equipment you have borrowed from the JELS service is no longer needed we can arrange to collect it or alternatively you can bring it to us in Cramlington. Please call 01670 730595 for more information. We are open Monday to Friday 8.30am – 4pm.
Joint Equipment Loans Service
Northumbria healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
43 Colbourne Crescent
Nelson Park Industrial Estate
Cramlington
Northumberland
NE23 1WB- Wheelchair Services
Our wheelchair services in North Tyneside and Northumberland offer a range of wheelchairs and associated equipment to meet people’s specific individual needs.
The service is for people who need equipment for at least six months. Short-term loans can be made by the Equipment and Loans Service.
You can be referred to the wheelchair service by your GP or hospital consultant.
Following your referral a clinician from the wheelchair service or an approved prescriber will assess your needs and recommend a suitable chair to meet your specific needs. Assessments can take place in a variety of settings depending on the type of assessment you need.
All our equipment has been approved by a regional panel and will be delivered at the first opportunity. Please be aware that delivery times vary and special equipment that we do not hold in stock may take longer to deliver to you.
We will ring you the day before we plan to deliver your equipment to check that you will be in. Our drivers are not able to show you how to use the equipment so a health professional will visit to show you and your carer how to use the equipment correctly and safely and how to look after it.
